Out hunting the other day from my favorite spot 10 minutes up the road. Westchester County, NY, has a long and proud history of bowhunting. Always been a bowhunting county and resides a little over an hour from NYC. Beautiful country and great hunting opportunities when you can secure permission. I'm lucky. I've hunted with gentlemen who had hunted in Westchester since the 1950s...most have hung up their bows in old age and, regretfully, some in their passing - and a hunt does not go by when I don't think about these men - God bless them,

Soon saw three deer, doe and her fawns. Was about 30 - 40 yds away, but didn't want to take a shot, too many branches around and a little out of my comfort zone. Watched them for hour and a half - successful hunt for me. The experience includes all aspects not only the harvest, but memories and the opportunity to be out there.

Ahh,memories, I grew up in Port Chester. Hunted Westchester for years. Actually Westchester is the connecting county to NYC(the Bronx),so if you live down , county, your minutes to NYC, lol. (I know, you probably meant Manhattan).

I bowhunt Bedford Hills...lucky enough my wife's aunt/uncle live there. Took a few nice deer off "only" 4 acres. Biggest problem is a bad hit and having deer run across people's property. Fortunately I never had that problem. Some real nice pockets in Westchester left but most of the time trespassing runs rampant.

Mike, you're right, I know the Bronx quite well!

Just giving you hard time, ??. Sometimes I miss sitting in my stand, watching people leave their house to go to work. Always got a kick out of that.

Huh I put a smiley face not question marks.

i know what you mean, my other spot is like that. This spot above is pretty big considering Westchester. We even have black bear around when you're lucky enough to see one.

You guys let me know if you need any company... I may be able to line up a spot in Scarsdale, but it's hard to compete with a landscaper/plow-driver who gives a discount in return for hunting access!

Drifter - I'm not in Port C, but I could land an arrow there from the back yard without dropping under 9 GPP....

All of you guys recognize this then. Just spent a couple nights there at the end of the bridge and downtown, to see the sights and Christmas lights. And saw a few deer along the way. Looks like some promising hunting not far from there.

GF, sounds like your right down the Merritt from me.

Well, you are right up the road from me (Dutchess County)

Trap - I only catch that view 6X/week! That angle can't be more than 100 yards or so from where the crane tipped over.... Lucky for me I only drive to Weehawken 3X/week these days... that 25,000 mile/year commute was KILLING me!

Eric - I most certainly am; if you need to Buy any Rum, lemmeknow and we'll drift down the river together... It's loaded with FallFish and Carp the size of Nuke torpedoes...

GF, Rye?

GF, I zoomed a bit with my LG from those fancy riverfront apts. next to the train station, along that walkway. A crane tipped over? Holy crap.. One did in downtown Manhattan last year too. That bridge is coming along nicely. And just north of Nyack on the other side, there were quite a few deer along the Thruway.

Buy-Rum... Caroline pond.

Come by our club someday - we have open memberships- Pootatuck Archers, Redding CT.

I think you must hang out there with Wild Bill.....

Thinking to re-up at Cos Cobnow that the boys are turning on to arrow-fligin'!

GF, ah just over the river. That was my next guess. Used to eat at The Little Italian restaurant.

I used to hunt pheasant with a slingshot where the Hilton Hotel is on Westchester Avenue. That was before the new high school and General Foods was built across the street.

Eric,

For your ears sake, I hope your are not hunting under the flight path to the airport.

I've been hunting Westchester for 40+ years. The last 7 years with a trad bow. Back in 1984 I took an 8 pointer on some private property in Bedford. That deer had a 20inch antler spread and dresses out at 198 pounds. And there were at least 3 more bucks on the property that were even bigger. Private property over 3 acers has become more challenging to find. I've recently been hunting a number of the open Watershed properties throughout the county. They tend to be a bit crowded but still have a few quality deer hear and there.

I occasionally 3d shoot at Cos Cob in CT. I'm not a member but hang with a few Trad guys that are. I also have shot at Blue Mountian Sportsman Club. And stump shoot on some of the watershed property in the area.

Due to some unexpected health issues my wife is experiencing my season has been cut short right after opening day. If any of you guys are interested in getting together in Feb for some stumping please send me a PM.

Took my biggest whitetail to date in Westchester. Over 160 gross.

It's amazing to me that there is this quality of deer 50 minutes outside NYC. Great deer PD!

Ha! I saw one nearly as big as that road-killed within flight-shooting distance of the GWB!!

It's pretty crazy... But good numbers and no pressure and the inches really add up!!!

Awesome deer, though-- really like that floating shoulder mount.

Is a NYS hunting license required for stumping?

I used to get better in my taxidermy shop when I lived there!

GF- yes, if stmping on watershed property you need a valid nys hunting license and there must be something in season(grey squrrels, Feb, Turkey I think April, frogs in June. Also, Red Squirrels are always in season with no limit. I always carry the rules and regs with me just in case.

Pedastal mount

I live in Throgs neck in the Bronx .I have been hunting in Westchester for about 30 years. Most people don't believe there are such quality deer only 30 minutes away from the Bronx. Also it is bow hunting only which makes it so much nicer.

Great thread, and great neighbors. I appreciate the opportunity to have met you guys on LW. I'm getting ready to hunt on Monday and most of next week. My hunting is focused in Pound Ridge and Vista. I really like bowhunting only areas - camo all the time and long seasons (and big bucks)!

God bless you guys and a Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Westchester County bowhunting has a long and storied heritage. I'm grateful to hunt there and also like the reduction in license fees for nonresidents.

Reduced NR lic fees?? Gotta look into that!

I've eaten reds - pine squirrels, back home - not bad at all...

Those and jacks.... back when I was taking home $642.25/month, I couldn't afford the gas to get out if there wasn't a meal or two in it.... LOL

But f I want the boys along, I think I'm going to be stuck in-state.... After we do bowhunter ed and Hunter safety....

Yorktown in the a.m. Eric good luck and enjoy the holidays.

TTT - any of you guys interested in getting together for some stump shooting?

Pete,

Where, when?

I shoot Tuesdays and Thursdays in Woodbury,Ct. at Algonquin Archers. If it is not too far for everyone, you all are welcome to come and shoot the 3D or indoor range.

Hey Eric, is Pootatuck Archers outdoor range available?

I'd definitely be into some stumping - don't know any places near me (I'm in Tarrytown) but I'd be happy to come up to Pound Ridge or wherever. Dave

Mr Natural - If you have a NYS small game license you be on any local watershed open for small game. Squirrels are in season until Feb 28th in NYS. Red squirrels are open all year with no limit. I use it as an excuse to stump shoot.

Wild Bill - do you have a NYS license?

Thanks Pete - I don't, but I'll look into it. Bill, Woodbury is only an hour or so away from me. When do you usually go shooting? I'd really like to come check it out sometime!

I've shot at Algonquin a few times, nice course, also threw the Atlatl there, that was fun

PD, can you give some measurements. I do not see 160"s even if the deer has over 40"s of mass. Thanks! Scooby

Westchester Co 10 pt. 148 gross

See if I can straighten it

Are you kidding me!! Why do my pics come sideways?? I just tweeted this pic so it'd come up upright!!

Nice 8. Only 2.5 yrs old. 3.5 at the most but doubt it. Dressed out at 125 lbs.

Couple more Westchester Co. Racks. all taken with my Widow. Actually that bottom rack was taken in Putnam Co.

Big rub in westchester. Never got a crack at him

Sean, can't get things straight huh? Scooby

Ha!! Some pics go crooked some are straight. Can't figure it out. It's orob in the sizing

Nice looking downstate bucks guys. Lots of good oak mast I noticed when hiking around down there and a good deer pop. I'd hunt there...

Some great deer posted on this thread. Are there any good traditional shops/ranges or clubs in Westchester?

Mrjeffro, pm me

Pete can get you the low-down... and you can also check out Cos Cob Archers off of exit 4 on the Greenwich side of the line. They're not specifically Trad, but there are a few. They've got 2 3-D courses and basically one NFAA target for every 3-D critter...

A few members of Cos Cob Archers asked me to pass this along. Cos Cob Archers in Cos Cob CT is having an Unofficial Trad Only Shoot on March 12th. We're just hoping to get a bunch of guys together to shoot. Great courses, 2 different 20 twenty target walk through ranges on 25 acres. They added a bunch of new Rinehart targets and muzzy blocks for multiple shot opportunities at each station. 8:00am -2:00pm (Registration - 8:00-8:45)Fee: $10. Bring your own lunch.

PM me for more details.

TTT

Ttt

You guys with sideways photos, that's generally a simple fix of turning your cameras on their side when you take the photo, just like a camera is held. Using your phone like when you are talking on it creates portrait mode and that shows up sideways. Think like you're using a camera. Well, I guess you are. ))

My Dads one and only archery buck, 1957

Sounds like a good time Pete, I’m about 40 minuets down 95 I’ll be there.

Eric, thanks for sharing your good time. Nice sentiments. Jawge

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